Uefa bans rainbow colors in baku and st. Petersburg

adminonDecember 17, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

Uefa bans rainbow colors in baku and st. Petersburg

In the fight for Respect, tolerance and equality the European Football Union (Uefa) has folded once again. Among other things, the continental federation banned its European Championship sponsor Volkswagen from appearing at Friday's quarterfinal matches in St. Petersburg and on Saturday in Baku to use the last advertising banners in rainbow colors. On Friday in Munich and Saturday in Rome, however, they should come into play.

Sponsor VW regrets association's decision

"Due to concerns raised by Uefa with regard to the legal framework at the venues in Russia and Azerbaijan, the association has informed us that playing on the advertising boards in rainbow colors is not permitted in St. Petersburg and Baku was not possible," Volkswagen announced on Friday, stressing, "We regret this development." Once again one has a "clear Signs per diversity" want to put.

Last week, the Uefa had given the City of Munich forbids to let the arena light up in the rainbow colors at the match between Germany and Hungary. In cancelling, it referred to its regulations, which state that it is a non-political association. The city of Munich wanted to set an example, after Hungary had earlier ied an internationally criticized Law to prevent information about homosexuality had said goodbye.

Following the decision against Munich's plans, Uefa had a Replacing the advertising boards of several EM sponsors approved. Rainbow colors were seen on them during the round of 16 matches. Baku and St. Petersburg, however, were in the first c.o.-Round no venues.

Man with a rainbow flag © lazyllama (shutterstock)

Pope Francis has again launched a relief effort to help transsexual prostitutes in the Corona crisis. The majority of those affected come from Latin America and engage in street prostitution in Italy.

According to Italian media reports (Tuesday), the Vatican provided corona tests and flu shots to about 30 people in a "trans community" near Rome. The donation was organized by the papal almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.

It is a sign of solidarity, explained Father Andrea Conocchia, who cares for the prostitutes. For Francis, the church is not least a "field hospital". This attitude is followed by concrete action, also for those who live on the margins of society.

Pope helped as early as May

Already in May, the Pope had given financial support to the Trans Group in Torvaianica. The majority of those affected come from Latin America and work as street prostitutes in Italy. With the onset of the Corona pandemic, the punters stayed away. As money for food became scarce, the needy asked the church for help. "They all see in the pope a friend who is very close to them," says local priest Conocchia.

In the case of Priest Jansen, who was placed on leave over abuse allegations, Cologne Cardinal Woelki defended the archdiocese's action. In the newspaper interview, he rejected accusations that the priest was being punished.

The archdiocese had suspended 73-year-old pastor Winfried Jansen from his pastoral duties in early February over allegations of "sexual boundary violations" in the 1970s. Cardinal Woelki told the "Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger" that accusations that the archdiocese wanted to finish Jansen off with this are "completely abstruse". "We have examined very carefully and calmly," said Woelki.

The procedure would apply the bishop's guidelines for dealing with sexual abuse. It is therefore "transparent and verifiable," Woelki stressed. Among other things, the priest is accused of sexually violating the boundaries of a then nine-year-old girl in the early 1970s.

Don't add to the burden on victims

Woelki pointed out that since then more victims had come forward because of sexual border violations. The suspended priest also realizes in the meantime that he "did not behave correctly". The archbishop stressed that for him it was crucial that those responsible for the diocese had acted "to the best of their knowledge and conscience".

"We could not disclose everything we know about what happened at that time out of consideration for the victims. That might have contributed to a greater understanding by the community of what we were doing. But it would have increased the burden for the victims, which the public attention alone means for them," Woelki said.

Sharp criticism of the archdiocese

Therefore, the archbishop said, he must "endure being accused of defamation or character assassination, for example.". Several criminal charges were filed with the public prosecutor's office against him as well as against the archdiocese's press spokesman, Christoph Heckeley, and Vicar General Stefan Hebe.

In the parish in Erftstadt, many parishioners had backed the accused clergyman and voiced partly sharp criticism of the archbishopric. Woelki announced that the auxiliary bishop responsible for the region, Manfred Melzer, would travel to Erftstadt twice in March and April. The accused priest has been relieved of his duties until the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican has ruled on his case.

Sponsor VW regrets association's decision

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